Young People: Don’t Write Yourself Out Of Your Own Future

In an era of fake news and tireless mendacity from those in public office, it is easy to feel despondent about modern-day politics.

So too is it perhaps natural to feel disenfranchised from it – not least when the composition of elected-representatives in parliament does not broadly reflect the demographic of the United Kingdom as a whole.

So when people tell me “I’m not going to vote as politics doesn’t affect me”, or that “nothing will change”, I sympathise with that line of argument. But I don’t agree with it.

Here’s why I think you should vote Labour this general election.

Labour’s manifesto represents a blueprint that if implemented could transform the lives of many, young people included. From extending free childcare support to parents, investment in Sure-Start centres, to free school dinners for all primary school students – such vision aims to support every child from day one. For those hoping to go to college the Educational Maintenance Allowance, scrapped under the Conservatives, will be restored. And here’s perhaps the biggest pledge of all: tuition fees for university goers will be jettisoned once and for all.

In addition, Labour plan to build more affordable housing and guarantee the Help to Buy scheme until 2027, so young people have a chance to get on the property ladder. When it comes to work, they will scrap exploitative zero-hour contracts, and increase the minimum wage to £10 per hour by 2020.

Turning to our beloved NHS, instead of presiding over cuts to staff and resources like the Conservatives have over these last 7 years, Labour will provide a healthy dose of investment, with an emphasis on funding mental health services to ensure parity of esteem. The list goes on.

And how to fund these bold pledges, you may ask? Well not via a “magic money tree” as the Tories assert. But by following a robust and fully-costed agenda present in a separate document entitled “Funding Britain’s Future”. In stark contrast, the Conservative’s manifesto does not even set out the numbers .

Time and time again, the charge brought against young people is that we don’t turn out to vote. This general election, let’s not fall foul to such an allegation. Accepting the status quo should not be an option.

Don’t write yourself out of your own future.

Vote Labour on June 8th.